My air fryer chicken strips recipe will show you that cooking chicken fingers in air fryer is quick and easy. They are flavorful, tender, and juicy inside, with a breaded, crispy, golden crust.
Air Fryer Chicken Strips Recipe
This air fryer chicken strips recipe has many advantages, but the most obvious one is that you get crispy chicken without the heaviness of deep frying. Since they are made in the air fryer using chicken breast (not chicken tenders), they cook quickly and still feel satisfying.
If you like KFC's crispy strips, this will be a hit. While not an exact copycat, it delivers that heavily seasoned flavor that keeps you going back for another piece. The difference is that these chicken fingers are cooked in the air fryer, creating a beautifully browned coating with a fraction of the oil while keeping the chicken juicy and tender.
Kids love them, and they are a great way to get picky eaters to enjoy a good source of protein. Few things are as satisfying as perfectly made chicken strips in air fryer: crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and packed with flavor.
You will love how versatile these air fryer chicken breast strips are. Serve them as appetizers when guests come over, use them to make a quick sandwich with lettuce and your favorite sauce, or add them to a big salad bowl for a balanced meal. They work perfectly as a snack, a quick dinner, or for dipping in your favorite sauce.
Unlike chicken tenders, chicken strips are made with boneless chicken breast, which is more accessible and cheaper.
Ingredients
Here are the ingredients required:
Chicken breast: boneless and skinless.
Paprika
Black pepper
Garlic granules
Onion powder: Onion powder adds extraordinary flavor and pairs especially well with chicken.
Stock powder: Chicken bouillon or stock powder intensifies the savory profile. Keep in mind that it usually contains a fair amount of sodium, so adjust any additional salt as needed.
Mixed herbs: A blend of dried herbs like oregano, thyme, and marjoram that brings a very pleasant aromatic touch.
Salt: Use fine salt, and remember to account for the salt already provided by the stock powder.
Plain flour: All-purpose flour for the breading.
Buttermilk: This helps the chicken turn out incredibly tender and juicy. If you don't have buttermilk on hand, you can easily make a substitute at home by mixing 1 cup of milk with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar. Let it sit for about 5 minutes until the milk slightly curdles, and it will be ready to use.
Eggs
Oil spray: For the air fryer, it's best to use cooking oil spray. A quick spritz is enough to ensure the breading turns beautifully golden and crispy.
How To Air Fry Chicken Strips
Step 1- Cut the chicken breast into even strips, about ½ inch wide by 3 inches long. Try to keep them roughly the same size, otherwise the smaller pieces will dry out and burn before the thicker ones are done.
Step 2- In a small bowl, thoroughly combine the paprika, black pepper, garlic granules, onion powder, stock powder, mixed herbs, and salt.
Step 3- Add half of the seasoning mix to the chicken strips along with the buttermilk. Toss well to coat the chicken strips evenly.
Step 4- Add the remaining half of the seasoning to the plain flour.
Step 5- Coat each chicken strip in the seasoned flour, dip it into the beaten egg, and then toss it back into the flour. Press down lightly with your fingers to create small crinkles that will form a textured crust during cooking.
Step 6- Arrange the chicken fingers in air fryer basket, leaving space between them, and spray them with cooking oil (this helps simulate the effect of deep frying and promotes even browning).
Step 7- Air fry chicken strips at 400°F (200°C) for 10 to 12 minutes. They are ready when the outside is nicely browned, and the inside is cooked through. If you have a meat thermometer, look for 165°F (74°C) in the thickest part.
Storage and Reheating
Let it cool, pack in a sealable container, and store in the fridge for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Reheating chicken strips- Preheat the air fryer to 350°F (175°C). Place the leftover strips in a single layer and heat for 3 to 5 minutes. This method helps bring back the texture of the coating without drying out the meat. Avoid the microwave, as it will make the breading soggy.
Freezing: You can freeze the breaded chicken to cook later. To prevent them from sticking together, freeze the pieces in a single layer on a parchment-lined tray. Once frozen solid, transfer them to a ziplock bag for easy storage.
FAQS
Place the chicken breast flat on a cutting board. If it is particularly thick, slice it horizontally first to ensure an even thickness. Then, cut lengthwise into uniform strips, aiming for about ½ inch wide by 3 inches long to guarantee even cooking.
Cook at 400°F (200°C) for 10 to 12 minutes, flipping halfway through. The exact time depends on the thickness of your strips and your specific air fryer model. They are fully cooked when the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) in the thickest part.
Yes. You can cook breaded chicken strips directly from frozen. In fact, air frying them from frozen yields excellent results without the need to thaw them first.
Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Arrange the frozen breaded strips in a single layer, ensuring they don't touch. Cook for 12 to 15 minutes. Flip them halfway through the cooking time and give them a light spray of oil if the breading looks dry.
Tips For Air Fryer Chicken Fingers
- If time allows, marinate the chicken in the buttermilk mixture in a tightly covered container in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. The acidity in the buttermilk helps break down proteins, ensuring tender meat.
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket. If the pieces touch, they will steam instead of fry, which affects the texture.
- Halfway through cooking, flip the strips and give them a light spritz of oil if they look dry. This helps them brown evenly on all sides.
More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes
I hope you like this air fryer chicken strips recipe as much as I do. If you find this post helpful, please rate it 5 stars and leave me a comment below. I love reading from you.
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Air Fryer Chicken Strips
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 500 g Chicken breast boneless skinless
- 2 medium Eggs
- 2 teaspoons Paprika
- 2 teaspoon Mixed herbs
- ½ teaspoon Garlic granules
- ½ teaspoon Onion granules
- ½ teaspoon Stock powder
- 2 tablespoons Buttermilk
- 2 cups Plain flour/All purpose flour
- Salt to taste
- Oil spray
Instructions
- Cut the chicken breast into even strips, about ½ inch wide by 3 inches long. Try to keep them roughly the same size, otherwise the smaller pieces will dry out and burn before the thicker ones are done.
- In a small bowl, thoroughly combine the paprika, black pepper, garlic granules, onion powder, stock powder, mixed herbs, and salt.
- Add half of the seasoning mix to the chicken strips along with the buttermilk. Toss well so the chicken strips are evenly coated.
- Add the remaining half of the seasoning to the plain flour.
- Coat each chicken strip in the seasoned flour, dip it into the beaten egg, and then toss it back into the flour. Press down lightly with your fingers to create small crinkles that will form a textured crust during cooking.
- Arrange the chicken fingers in air fryer basket, leaving space between them, and spray them with cooking oil (this helps simulate the effect of deep frying and promotes even browning).
- Air fry chicken strips at 400°F (200°C) for 10 to 12 minutes. They are ready when the outside is nicely browned, and the inside is cooked through. If you have a meat thermometer, look for 165°F (74°C) in the thickest part.
Notes
- If time allows, marinate the chicken in the buttermilk mixture in a tightly covered container in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. The acidity in the buttermilk helps break down proteins, ensuring tender meat.
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket. If the pieces touch, they will steam instead of fry, which affects the texture.
- Halfway through cooking, flip the strips and give them a light spritz of oil if they look dry. This helps them brown evenly on all sides.
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